Illuminating cane and umbrella handle



Oct. 21, 1941. F. A. GEIER ILLUMINATING CANE AND UMBRELLA HANDLE Filed April 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR .Gezer,

Ira n ATTORN EY Oct. 21, 1941. F. A. GEIER ILLUMINATING CANE AND UMBRELLA HANDLE Filed April 20, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 md m WOW

INVENTOR Imm e z'er, BY

ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 21, 1941 ILLUMINATING cam: AND UMBRELLA HANDLE Frank A. Geier, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application April 20, 1939, Serial No. 268,864

1 Claim.

.The object of the invention is to provide im- [provements in illuminated canes and umbrella handles, and in the following description and appended claims it is to be understood that the ,single reference to canes and cane handles is intended to imply the equivalent structure in um brellw.

Another object is to provide several ways in which the invention can be inexpensively applied to handles of this class, so as to provide in turn for as many different modes of operation, and

thereby suit the tastes of different manufacturers,

as well as the many types of persons that go to make up the general public.

More specifically, the invention comprises the application of an electric light bulb, battery and control switch to a cane handle in several different forms, including one in which the switch is actuated by a laterally extending button, one

in which a switch is actuated by the rotation of a cam-shaped sleeve or ferrule, one in which the switch is actuated by pressure upon a yielding closure of the free end of the cane handle, one in which the switch is actuated by rotation of the transparent head or knob of the cane, one in which a rotatable sleeve itself forms a circuiclosing contact element, one in which the switch is positioned in an unyielding end portion of a cane, and one in which a band is rotated so as to complete the electric circuit.

With the objects thus briefly stated, the invention comprises further details of construction and operation, which are hereinafter fully brought out in the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,'in which Fig. 1 is an elevaticnal view, partly in section, showing one embodiment of the invention; Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing a modified form the invention; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2, but showing a second modified form of invention; Fig. 5 is a similar view showing a third modified form of the invention; Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line H oi Fig. 5; Fig. '7 is a sectional view of a handle of a shape and size which is especially adapted for use upon umbrellas and showing another modification oi the invention; Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. "l, but showing still another modification of the invention; Fig. 9 is an elevational view, partly in section, showing a still further modification of the invention as applied to a cane or umbrella handle; and Fig. 10 is a similar view showing a still further modification of the invention.

Referring to Fig. 1, the shaft or staff l of a 55 similar to the knob s in Fig. 1 and being secured,

cane or the like is shown as being provided in its normally manually engageable end portion with an axial recess 2, in which is positioned a dry cell or equivalent form of battery 3, while the outer end of said staff comprises a reduced, externally threaded end portion l upon which is secured any suitable form or shape of transparent terminal knob 3, which knob may be plain, carved, decorated, or in fact treated in any desired manner. The inner end of the battery 3 rests upon and in contact with one end 8 of a metallic conductor, which extends laterally and thence longitudinally along one side wall of the recess 2, to form a mounting l for a slidable metallic contact member I, which in turn is provided with a lug 3 extending outwardly through an aperture It in the side of saidstaif. Upon shifting said lug longitudinally towards the normal upper end of said stall, said contact member I is brought into electrical contact with a metal.

gasket I I, the peripheral edge portion of which is fixedly positioned by and between the reduced end 4 of the staff and an adjacent, inwardly extending flange l2, carried by the hollow knob I.

responding terminal of the battery 3. with this construction, the lamp remains illuminated as long as the lug 9 is in upper position and the contact member 8 is in contact with the gasket ll.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the staff I is here providedwith a similar axially extending bore 2 in which is positioned a battery 3, the inner end of which is in contact with the laterally extending inner end portion 4' of a metallic conductor ii, the upper end portion of which conductor extends freely into a lateral oifset 20 from the bore 2 and is adapted to be engaged by the yieldingly positioned inner end portion of a contact member 2|, the opposite end of which is secured within said bore and in direct contact with a metallic gasket ,22, which like the gasket H of Fig. 1 is provided with a central aperture 23 for receiving the outer terminal portion 23 of a lamp 25, the inner terminal 26 of said lampbeing held in permanent contact with the central terminal of the battery 3 by reason of the fact that the gasket 22 is secured in fixed positioriagainst the outer edge portion of the staff I by means of a flange 21, with which the surrounding-transparent knob 28 is provided, said knob being quite in threaded engagement with the adjacent edge portion of said stair. In this form of the device, said stafl and knob are provided with spaced paralleiflanges 29 and 36, between which is rotatably secured a band 8|, said band being provided upon its inner surface with an angularly extending cam-shaped recess 32, into which extends the outer end portion of a lug 83, which upon turning said band operates to force said lug inwardly, or permits said lug to shift outwardly under the tension of the resilient contact member 2|, so as to complete or break the circuit between the conductor I and said contact member, and thereby cause the lamp 2!! to be energized and de-energized, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 4, the stair l is provided upon its normal upper end with a threaded reduced portion 35, to which is secured one end of a cylindrical transparent member 66, the opposite end of which member is provided inwardly with an annular flange 3!, against which is positioned a metal gasket 38 having a central aperture 39, through and in contact with which is the outer terminal 40 of an electric lamp 4i. Said gasket is secured in fixed position by means of an opaque cylindrical members 42, having a lower reduced end portion 43 which enters and is secured in threaded engagement withthe similarly threaded .annular terminal portion of said transparent member 36. The opaque terminal member 42 is provided with an axial bore 45 in which is positioned a battery 86 and also a longitudinally extending conductor 61, which at one end is in direct contact with the gasket 36 and at its opposite outer end is defiected radially inwardly and reversely bent, so as to comprise a resilient con-.- tact member 46, adapted to be brought into electrical contact with the outer casing of the battery .46, upon manually pressing inwardly upon a flexible disc 49, the periphery of which disc is secured to the opaque member 42 by means of an in-turned flange 56. In this form of the device, the conductor 61 must be suitably insulated from the casing of the battery 46, as by means of the usual cardboard or other nonbetween the gasket 38 and the lower end of said battery so that said battery is normally in a raised position, free from contact with said lamp, downward pressure of the flexible disc'tS in such case will force the battery downwardly into contact with and cause energizing of said lamp.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, the staff I is here provided with an axially extending bore Si in which is positioned a battery 52. The radially inwardly extending end portion 53 of a con= ductor 54 contacts with the outer terminal of said battery, while the major portion of said conductor extends longitudinally in an ofiset 55 of the bore 5|, and at its outer end is in direct contact with one leg of a metallic yoke 56. This yoke is insulated from the outer energized surface portion of the battery and is provided centrally with an aperture 51 through and in contact with which is the outer terminal 56 of a lamp 59, the

The opposite legs 66 of said yoke are deflected.

laterally outwardly, and are secured between the adjacent edge portions of said stafl and a hollow transparent terminal knob 6|, said yoke being secured to said knob so as to rotate with it upon the threaded end portion of said stall. With this construction. and as will be seen from Fig. 6, when the lamp 59 is not illuminated, both of the legs of said yoke are laterally displaced with respect to the conductor 64. Then, when the knob BI is rotated in the direction of the arrow of Fig. 6, one of these legs of the yoke comes into electrical contact with the conductor 54, thereby completing the circuit and eiiecting an illumination of said lamp.

Referring to Fig. 7, the relatively slender stafl 62 of an umbrella or the like is provided with an enlarged opaque handle portion 63, having an axial bore 64 in which is positioned a battery 66, which rests upon a compression spring 66, said spring being in turn in contact with a transversely extending portion 61 of a conductor having a longitudinally extending portion 66, which at its opposite outer end projects at 69 through 'the wall of the handle 63. Said handle is provided outwardly with a reduced, threaded end portion '56 to which is secured the correspondingly threaded lower portion II of a hollow, transparent terminal knob 12, which may be of any desired shape or configuration, and is so formed as to secure against the adjacent end of said handle a metallic gasket 13, having a central aperture 14 through and in contact with the sides of which is the outer terminal 15 of a lamp E6, the central terminal ll of which lampis in constant engagement with the central terminal of the battery. Said gasket is also provided with a normally downwardly, and thence laterally extending end portion 18, which also projects through the side wall of the handle 63 and in close proximity to, but spaced from the end 69 of the conductor 68. These terminal ends are then adapted to be electrically connected by rotating a band 19, which surrounds said handle and is provided upon its inner surface with a metallic segment ll, whereby oscillation of said band 79 serves to complete or break the current and respectively energize and de-energize the lamp, as the case may be.

Referring to Fig. 8, the stair 12' of an umbrella or the like is, in this case, provided upon. its free outer end with a hollow, transparent handle 13', having an inwardly directed annular flange 14', to which is secured a metallic gasket 15' having a central aperture 76', through and in contact with the sides of which is the outer terminal 11' of a lamp E8, the inner terminal 19 of which lamp is in contact with the central terminal of a battery 66. This battery is positioned within an axial bore 8! in an opaque handle section 82, which is in threaded engagement at 83 with the transparent portion 13' of said handle. This opaque portion is closed at its outer end by a wall 85, having a central aperture 85 through which extends a button 86, which upon being pressed inwardly operates to force against the outer energized surface of said battery'the freely extending end portion of a resilient switch member 81, the opposite end of which is secured by any suitable means 68 to theinnersurface oi the end wall 86, and is connected by a wire or other form of conductor 89 to the gasket 15'.

Pressing the button it inwardly obviously then causes an illumination of the lamp it.

-Reierring to Fig. 9, the stall 80 of a cane or umbrella is in this case provided with an axial bore 9|, containing a battery 92, the outer terminal surface portion of which is in contact with one end 82 of a conductor 9|, which in this case wardly projecting portion 98 ot a conductor 89,-

which at its outer end is in contact with a metallic gasket I02, said gasket having a central aperture l0! through and in contact with the sides of which is the outer terminal I02 of a lamp I03, the central terminal I04 0! which lamp is in contactwith the central terminal oi the battery 82. The upper end portion of the stair 90 is provided with a reduced, threaded portion I05 to which is secured the lower end of an opaque cylinder I08, which forms a light-arresting liner for the transparent band 91, except for an aperture v liil through whichlight is permitted to pass outwardly. The outer end of said liner is closed by the handle I", which is in axial alignment with the stat! l0, and over'the lower end portion. of which also extends the upper portion of said band 91. In this modification, oscillation of said band causes the segment 98 to electrically connect the contacts SI and It, so as to energize said'lamp and cause rays to shine outwardlythrough the aperture I" in the opaque liner I", and thence through the transparent band 21.

Referring finally to Fig. 10, the stat! III is here provided with an axial bore iii containing a battery H2, the outer energized surface 01' which is in contact with one end 2 of a conductor ill, which extends longitudinally through and against one side wall of the bore iii to a terminal end portion I. Said staff is also provided with a threaded, reduced end portion H6, to which is rotatably threaded a hollow, transparent knob ill having an internal flange 8, against which is positioned a metallic gasket 8, having a bore I20, through and in contact with the sides of which is the outer terminal l2l of a lamp I22. A spring I22 extends between said battery and the adjacent surface of said gasket, also surrounding the adjacent end portion of said lamp, and thereby operates to press the gasket 9 against the knob flange H8. With this construction, rotation or screwing down of said knob operates to bring said gasket into contact with the terminal H5, thereby causing the battery to energize the lamp for such length of time as may be desired, and saidlamp being de-energized by reversely rotating said knob outwardly.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent oi! the United States is:

The combination oi a stafl having a recess, a battery located in said recess, resilient means to force said battery outwardly, and a conductor extending from said battery laterally through a wall or said recess, a metallic gasket carried by staid stair, a lamp having one terminal in contact with said gasket, a hollowtransparent member secured to said stall and operatively securing said gasket in position, said gasket having a lateral conductor extension also extending through the wall 0! said recess, and a band having an electrically conductive portion which when angularly shifted connects said conductor extensions to illuminate said lamp.

FRANK A. GEIER. 

